Memorial burial-vault.



l. S. DAULEY.

MEMORIAL BURIAL VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY3. 1916.

UVEYS Patented. Feb. 13, 1917.

l. S. DAULEY.

MEMORIAL BURIAL vAuLT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3| 1915- LQQC'Q Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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- ears Parana crearon.

ISAAC S. DAUEY, OF ONEONTA, NEW YORK.

j aannemer.. *snaren-vanta.,

To all 'whom t may concern.:

Be it known that l, lfsAAc S. DAULEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oneonta, in the county of Otsegoand State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Memorial Burial-Vault, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact derllhis invention relates to 'burial apparatus and has particular reference to burial vaults of the general nature described and .claimed in my co-pending application, filed February 7, 1916, Serial No. 76,702.

Among the objects of the present improvement is to provide a cheap and substantial vault construction adapted to be kept in a perfectly air and water tight condition both before' and after interment, the general object in this instance as in the previous one being to construct the vault or vaults preparatory .to future occupancy, whereby a man or the head of a family, while living and financially and otherwise able to prepare for the. disposal of his remains and those of the other members of his family, may provide in a way that he knows will be satisfactory.

Another obj ect of the present improvement isto provide a concrete burial vault having receptacle provisions in its bottom to rev ceive the moisture due to the process of decomposition of the body and to thereby prevent the disintegration of the casket and the destruction of the ornamental lining thereof. l

Another object of the invention is to so construct the inner walls of the concrete structure as to employ a metallic gutter extending entirely' around the Vinside of the vault, said gutter serving to receive any moisture which may pass the submerged vault cover and direct such moisture outwardly so as to-keep the interior of the vault perfectly dry and sanitary prior to intermentand final sealing. Another object of the invention is to so arrange the gutter device as to economize in the space occupied by the vaultstructure without detracting from the strength or durability thereof. l

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and While the invention -is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested hereL1 Specification of letters retenait.

Application tiled July 3, 1916. Serial No. @73315.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line'L-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is avertical transverse sectional v detail indicating the method of constructing a composite vault with one inner wall common to two adjacent vault receptacles;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view lof a double vault construction, one portion of the figure indicating an occupied vault with horticultural ornamentation, while the other portion of the vault is partially open indicating the nature of the sealing process;

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail perspective views of various modifications of gutter construction; and

. Fig. 8 is a detail view indicating that form of the device shown in Fig. 6 after the gutter is removed and the cover is permanently sealed.

By way first of a general description of the vault structures, l may state that a sin gle compartment vault may be made -or a plurality of compartments may be provided according to the number of caskets to be accommodated or the amount of cemetery space available. lfn Fig. 2 l show a pair of companion vaults, one of which is filled and the other is unfilled, awaiting future filling and sealing. It is'obvious that either of these vaults might be independent in every respect of the other, occupying adjacent and unrelated cemetery lots or they may constitute two elements of a group for the same family. In Fig. 3, however, l indicate a single inside wall or partition which may be common to adjacent vault compartments, preferably of a related group.

More definitely speaking each vault providing for a casket compartment includes a bottom 10, side walls. 1l, and head and foot walls 12 and 13. These walls are made pref erably integral with one another and with said bottom of any suitable composite or as indicated at lll and commonly usedin concrete structures.

1n or on the upper surface of the bottom is'provided a relatively shallow receptacle 15, over which a false bottom or casket rest 16 is supported. The casket rest is substantially flat andof a width and length corresponding to the length and breadth of the main vault compartment. 'llhe side and end edges of the casket rest may be supported upon a ledge 17 extending entirely around the bottom of the compartment thereby outlining the receptacle 15, or in place of the ledge 17 said casket rest may be supported upon any suitable number .or construction of blocks, such as indicated at 18, formed of concrete or the like and adapted to be arranged as may be desired upon the ioor of the receptacle. The casket rest is provided with a plurality of holes 16 through which the moisture resulting from the decomposition and disintegration of the body may pass into the receiving receptacle 15 provided between the casket rest and the bottom 10 of the vault compartment. may be provided with a plurality of cross strips 19 either before or at the time the casket is to be put in place. These strips providefor sufficient elevation of the casket above the casket rest for free circulation of the liquid, and also provide for free delivery of the straps used in lowering the casket to its nal resting place. From my long experience in this art, I am persuaded that with the drainage of the liquid matter oozing from the casket, the casket and its interior trimming will be kept in practically unimpaired condition for an indefinite length of time. The casket is bored at its bottom so that such moisture may drain freely therethrough.

As will be appreciated from the drawings, each compartment provided by the vault structure is intended to receive and accommodate a single burial casket, and hence whether the vaults are constructed singly or in groups, detached or composite, each compartment is always independentof any others so far as the reception and permanent keeping of the burial casket is'concerned. While the vault is being constructed, 1 form a ledge 20 which may be understood as bounding the upper portion of the casket compartment and extending entirely around said compartment. This ledge serves two important functions, first, as a strong permanent support for the cover 21 and secondly, as a support or connecting means for the gutter 22 formed preferably of metal such as sheet copper or sheet lead.

This metal gutter may be made to assume various forms and likewise be connected to the concrete in various ways. As indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, the glitter' comprises with respect to its cross section a horizontal portion 22a, a downwardly projecting Hange 22b which is embedded in the concrete,

The casket rest rameau and an upwardly projecting flange 22. ln this form of the invention, the horizontal or bottom portion 22a and the upwardly projecting flange 22c together with the concrete wall opposite the iiange 22, constitute the gutter or drainage means for any moisture that may enter the same over or around the cover 21. The coveris preferably made of concrete having a reinforcing strip 23 therein extending throughout the entire cover, including its downwardly projecting rim 24 which is supported upon the ledge 20 through the horizontal portion 22 of the gutter structure. The lrim of the cover is preferably spaced both from the upstanding flange 22'J and the upwardly projecting wall ofthe vault. rllhe spa-ce between the rim and the flange 22c provides for free flow of water and the space between the cover and the main walls of the vault is in the main simply a structural expedient provided for convenient manipulation of the cover. As noticed specially 1n Fig. 1, the head end of the cover structure is higher than the foot end, so that the drainage will be effected out through one or another of outlet pipes, shown as two in number at 25 in Figs. 1 and 5. These pipes are soldered to the -bottom portion 22*L of the gutter communieating with holes 26 therethrough and extending thence outwardly and downwardly into drainage holes 27 formed in the end wall 13 and leading beneath the concrete. The downwardly Aprojecting flange 22h is preferably formed with a series of openings 28, through which the concrete while green may pass, providing a more permanent binding for the sheet metal and under certain conditions providing through the metal for a reinforcement of the head portion of the wall structure, 4thereby reducing the liability of chipping or splitting off the ledge structure during the manipulation of the cover.

The upper portion of the side and end walls is provided with a plurality of holes 29 into which strong non-corrodible metal dowel pins 30 may be placed either before or after final sealing. The foot end wall is also provided with one or more drainage holes 31 leading downwardly and outwardly from the interior of the upper portion of the receptacle. The upper edge, constituting an exposed rim of the vault, may be of any suitable form depending upon the contour of the cemetery lot, but under ordinary circumstances 1 prefer that this edge be built so as to lie substantially flush with the ground level providing thereby the boundary for the mass of earth 32 or 32 which may be employed for the growing of flowers or other plants either before or after interment, although the usual practice is to plant the ornamental `shrubbery or iowers after intorment only. "While the mass of earth at telenet 32 maybe employed simply as a grass plot,

the arrangement is'well adapted also for theaccommodation of a memorial tablet which may be of an desired size or form, but applied ordinarily at the central portion of the earth 32', such tablet being indicated in Fig. 4 at 33. The tablet, however, may be of a larger form as suggested in my previous application, and consist of a ledger stone supported upon the side and end walls of the concrete construction, or it may rest across the head and part way down the outside walls, leaving a portion of the wall inclosure for plants.

In Fig. 3, l show a side wall 11 constituting a partition between two adacent compartments and indicating how va uable space may be saved by utilizlng a common wall and yet without weakening the structure or departing from the individuality of the several casket compartments.

In Fig. 6 ll indicate a gutter construction including a portion 34 projecting outwardly horizontally and resting upon the top or upper edge of the side and end walls and provided at its outer edge with a turn down flange 34, while the gutter proper is made up of inner and outer vertical .portions 35 and 36 connected by a horizontal bottom portion 37 resting partially upon the shoulder 20 and is intended to be applied to a vault entirely under ground or having the walls 11 thereof reduced in height as shown, the cover resting on the shoulder and gutter before interment as shown at the right side of Fig. 2. rllhis form of the gutter adapts it to be removed at the time of interment so as not only to economize the compartment space, but also to provide for repeated use of the gutter if desired. Fig. 8 shows this gutter removed and the manner in which the cover and vault (in this particular case) are permanently sealed, the process being done 1n plain sight of the operator, thus assuring an absolute certainty that a water and air tight sealing has been edected. rIhe composition of the material used to build and seal these vaults is of a nature that will resist water and prevent its penetrating the walls under the most trying conditions. rlhe form of gutter shown in Fig. 5 likewise may be cut and either bent down or trimmed o to economize compartment space and to save a portion of the metal for other use, but in all forms of the glitter construction, an upwardly projecting inner flange is provided. In Fig. 7 l indicate a suggestion of a gutter hav-ing a horizontal portion 38 with vertical holes 39 making a permanent connection with the concrete wall structure. The inner portion of this gutter including the vertical Harige 40 may, as above described, be supported upon a wall projecting ledge or, if' desired, the gutter may be made of heavy sheet or rolled metal with suilicient strength to constitute the only support for the cover rim 24.

The practice of this invention may be briefly summarized as follows: riihe gutter constructions and the covers are made up in `stock so as to adapt themselves to various specifications of the builder. An excavation of suitable size being made, the vault struc-V ture of concrete will be built as specified with the metal gutter xed in place with an air and water tight joint between the gutter and the walls. The drainage holes and dowel pin holes likewise will be formed during the formation of the side and end walls. When the concrete is set, the cover will be put in place, as indicated in Fig. 2, at the right hand side, and the space between the rim 24 and the walls will be filled with oakum, as shown at 41, or some other fibrous material which will serve to exclude dirt or sand from such space, but which will allow moisture to seep through from above the cover to the gutter. The earth 32 will then be filled in to the level of the upper edge of the concrete providing a grass plot as above suggested. When interment is to be made, the dirt will be shoveled, and cleaned out, and the packing at 41 will be removed by the use of a hook or the like leaving the cover free to be lifted by application to the handles 42 connected by metal straps or their equivalent 43. The gutter may then be removed or broken down if the full amount of space is to be utilized or may be left in position as may be deemed most expedient, and the casket will be lowered to its final position upon the cross strips 19 on the casket rest 16. The cover will then be replaced and in place of the oakum, a line of high grade cement 44 will be run in to constitute the initial seal. As in the case of Fig. 8 this process furnishes an absolute certainty that a water and air tight sealing has l.been effected. Prior to final sealing the walls of the structure previously exposed to dirt will be washed with suitable acid solution to cleanse the same for the reception and intimate union with the final sealing cement at 45, which is then put in place over the cover with a strip of reinforcing 46. The dowel pins 30 may not be necessary, but are preferred because of the assurance a'orded thereby that the cover and the sealing structure cannot possibly break down. rllhe filling of earth 32 is then put in place. The drainage hole 31 is so arranged that the upper end thereof will be approxi mately two inches above the top ofthe cement 45, so that a certain amount of water may be retained in the reservoir thus provided as a permanent feeder for the vegetation which may be planted and grown at 32.

l claim:

1. rlhe herein described memorial burial vault adapted to be placed beneath the surface of the earth, the same comprising integral bottom, side and end walls of rein- Aforced concrete providing a casket recepledge to exclude surface water or the like from the interior of the lower portion of the vault, said water excluding means constitilting a support for a mass of earth within the upper portion of the vault for the growth of vegetation on substantiallythe level of the surface of the surrounding earth.

3; The herein described burial vault comprising a solid water and frost proof inf tegral structure including a bottom and side and end walls, a ledge extending entirely around the bottom of the compartment formed by said side and end walls, a perforated casket rest supported upon said ledge, a plurality of cross strips connected to the upper surface of said casket rest, and means spaced upwardly from the casket rest to exclude all extraneous water from the' compartment in which the casket rest is located, said water excluding means constirelapse tilting a support for a superposed mass of earth within the upper portion of the integral structure.

4. ln a memorial burial vault, the combination with a rigid integral concrete structure including a bottom and side and end walls, of a detachable metallic glitter extending around the inner vault space `and sllpportedllpon the side and end walls, said gutter including ail upwardly extending inner flange and av vault cover above the gutter and having its rim supported adjacent the side and end walls upon the gutter structure, said gutter being inclined toward one end of the vallltand`provided with a drainage outlet for the water received from within the gutter.

5. ln a concrete burial vault, the combination with the integral side and end walls providing a casket compartment and having a ledge extending around the side and end walls forming the boundary for the casket compartment, of a metal gutter supported upon said ledge, one portion of the gutter extending inwardl from the ledge and thence upwardly orming a flange and a vault cover resting upon the glitter and supported. throligh the gutter upon said ledge, said cover serving to direct extraneous water into the glitter preventing its entry into the casket compartment, and means cooperating with the gutter to drain the water received thereby to the outside of the vault.

llSAAC S. DAULEY. 

